The confrontation resumes on the black-sand beach as the tallest irid accuses Violet and Andarna of weaponizing magic, calling Violet the horror who made Andarna into a weapon. Violet bristles, while Andarna seeks clarity, asking if the irids will return with them to help achieve peace. The irids firmly refuse, claiming they have watched part of the group’s journey and believe Violet’s side seeks victory, not peace. Chradh and Sgaeyl arrive with Xaden and Garrick, but Tairn holds the dragons back as the riders approach on foot.

Andarna argues that peace requires the Aretian wardstone and that they need the irids to fire it, but the irids reject responsibility. They assert that perhaps humanity should be consumed by the corrupted until forced to face their nature, speculating that the only path is eventual change through evolution. Andarna presses for knowledge of a cure for dark wielders; the female irid states there is no cure, explaining that venin do not trade their souls but kill them piece by piece by stealing magic from the earth.

Andarna asks how dark wielders were defeated in the Great War and whether her breed is the key since she can burn them. The irids dismiss the question and begin to withdraw as Xaden and Garrick flank Violet and Ridoc. Through signed exchanges, Violet updates them: the irids view Andarna as a weapon, refuse to help, and confirm there is no cure. The irids criticize the group for using magic for violence; Andarna condemns their privileged peace, and the tallest male calls the situation hopeless.

The tallest male announces a decision: by majority, Andarna is deemed irid only in scale and name, barred from the irid isle and their instruction. Andarna wishes she had never met them. As the tallest male departs by vanishing into the sky, Violet reels at the loss. Pain and shame slam through Violet’s bond with Andarna, and Violet tries to comfort her, but Andarna rejects the reassurance.

Leothan questions whether Violet knew Andarna was a juvenile at bonding. Violet admits she did not, explaining that golden feathertails are indistinguishable in youth and are kept hidden until after the Dreamless Sleep. As Xaden and Garrick react painfully to the bonds’ strain, the female irid recoils at Xaden, calling him an abomination when the rims of his irises flash bright red. She declares his kind beyond redemption and vanishes; Leothan studies Xaden, then disappears as well.

With the irids gone and Xaden’s eyes returning to their new amber-flecked state, he drops Violet’s hand and slams down his shields. Andarna retreats into the jungle in obvious anguish, shifting her scales to gold, and blocks Violet out. Tairn follows, noting other dragons approach. Left behind, Ridoc connects the red-eyed reveal to venin corruption and confronts Violet, demanding the truth about Xaden, while Xaden tells him to be silent.

The scene closes on a tense standoff: their plea to the irids has failed, there is no cure for venin according to the irids, Andarna has been rejected by her own kind, and Xaden’s corruption has been exposed to a squadmate. Ridoc gives Violet one chance to come clean.